More Than a Meal

Nov 20, 2018 | by Levy

This guest blog is written by Levy , who is partnering with The Salvation Army to provide a made-from-scratch Thanksgiving dinner for more than 1,200 clients. This is their second year serving The Salvation Army.

As the seasons change and the holidays seem to arrive earlier and earlier each year, the message and meaning of Thanksgiving remains constant for Levy. Thanksgiving is traditionally a day to give thanks and share a meal with family and friends, and at Levy it’s also a day to spread warmth, share home-cooked food with all, and make sure everyone feels like a member of the Levy family.

The Chicago-based hospitality company has been preparing full Thanksgiving meals for the hungry and homeless for over 20 years now. Starting in 1997 with the Pacific Garden Mission and continuing today with the Salvation Army, every Thanksgiving, Levy chefs and team members come together to cook an entire Thanksgiving meal from scratch and help feed those in need.

“This is our 21st year doing the Thanksgiving meal and this year we’ll be feeding over 1,200 people,” said Robin Rosenberg, Levy’s Vice President, Chef de Cuisine. “It’s really an incredible experience seeing the food you make bring a smile to someone’s face, and we’re thrilled to be able to give back in this way every year.”

Starting with Levy family and traditional Thanksgiving recipes, each menu item is lovingly prepared by groups of Levy team members over the course of three days and then delivered to the Salvation Army Freedom Center on Thanksgiving day. The food itself is just one component of the day, though, as Levy team members and their families plate and serve the food, and then visit with families and individuals who come to the Salvation Army Freedom Center for the holiday.

“We have Levy team members and their families come help at Thanksgiving year after year,” Chef Robin said. “With so many families and so much love in the room, this is so much more than a meal."

Join The Salvation Army's Fight for Good during the Christmas season! Learn more how you can help brighten the holidays for a neighbor in need!

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.